Kushida Is Leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Star Expected To Travel To U.S To Continue Career

New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kushida is leaving the company. The news was confirmed this evening from New Japan commentator Chris Charlton.

Kushida will be working his last match for New Japan at the end of the month. It could be either the January 29th show at Korakuen Hall, or the January 30th event in Los Angeles for the New Beginnings Tour.

Sugabayashi has 3 points: 1) Ibushi will be taking the next tour off due to his concussion. 2) Takashi Iizuka is retiring. He will have a retirement ceremony on February 21. 3) KUSHIDA will leave New Japan at the end of his contract on January 31.

KUSHIDA: I have been here in NJPW for 8 years. I was surprised at the scale of the business when I first came in and proud of being able to work here. The warm reception and words from the fans made me who I am and I am so grateful to them.

KUSHIDA: I am contracted with this company until the end of January so I won’t be talking much about beyond then. But it has been my dream for a long time to travel the world with professional wrestling. And that’s what I will be doing.

KUSHIDA: if there was anything left for me to achieve and do, I wouldn’t be leaving. But I’ll put my all in this last month. There’s been a lot of people who have influenced me over these 8 years. Liger, Tana. Shibata, Makabe, Tiger Hattori. They all enjoy wrestling.

Kushida did state that he wishes to pursue the rest of his career overseas. The WWE has interest in Kushida, and back in December Dave Meltzer noted that they have plans for him in NXT if he did sign with the company.

It is unknown what Kushida’s next move will be, but we should know at the end of the month once his contract expires.